Volunteer Planting Event & Expo — Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo’s Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration returned Saturday with a volunteer planting and Green Expo along Oso Creek Trail. (missionviejo.gov) The city scheduled the event from 8 a.m. to noon on April 25 along the section of trail north of Jeronimo Road. Volunteers were asked to plant trees and shrubs and bring hats, gloves, boots and sunscreen. (missionviejo.gov 1) (missionviejo.gov 2) A Green Expo ran in the open space beside the trail with environmental exhibits and activities focused on pollution prevention, recycling and other earth-friendly habits. The city also offered lunch and ice cream to volunteers while supplies lasted. (missionviejo.gov) This year’s event included a designated “Meet the Goats” area linked to Mission Viejo’s goat-grazing program. The city said visitors could interact with miniature goats and learn how grazing is used for vegetation management, wildfire prevention and environmental stewardship. (missionviejo.gov) Mission Viejo also recruited exhibitors ahead of the event, inviting groups with an environmental product, service or message to set up along Oso Creek Trail between Jeronimo Road and Casta Del Sol. City officials said the annual celebration attracts hundreds of volunteers. (missionviejo.gov) Voice of OC included the Mission Viejo planting and expo in its roundup of free Orange County activities for the weekend. The listing described it as one of several family-oriented volunteer options across the county. (voiceofoc.org) Parking for Saturday’s event was set at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, with complimentary golf-cart shuttles to the planting area. Pre-registered volunteers were told to submit an application and waiver to the city. (missionviejo.gov) The format stayed close to Mission Viejo’s recent Earth Day playbook: plant along the trail, browse the expo, and turn a city cleanup morning into a public event. (missionviejo.gov)